“What serious traveler has not longed to wade ashore in the warm waters surrounding Zanzibar? Who among us has not dreamt of walking in the paths of Sultans draped in rich robes, or in the shadows of one of his harems of concubines?” That quote is from Karyn Planett, who writes for Reflections, was what I read on the morning we arrived in Zanzibar and it is the perfect quote.
Upon arriving you see the local fishermen in their small sailing boats weaving in between the tankers and visiting yachts. The buildings have an Arabian flair with ornate doors; the market is filled with vendors selling everything from spices, fish, and poultry to tennis shoes. You can explore its maze of streets and find a wonder at each turn.
A church in Stone Town commemorates the slave trade and it is said that the heart of Livingstone was buried there before his body was returned to England.
The slaves were chained together and after arriving by boat from lands across the sea were placed into a holding cell until they were sold. If they could not be sold for whatever reason, they were killed. There is a beautiful sculpture that is in memory of the lives that were sold and for those that were killed.
Zanzibar was the home of Sultans and their wives. One such man was Sultan Barghash. He was the rich man in this town and according to local history had 100 concubines and 5 wives. When he was not too tired, he built Beit el-Ajaib otherwise known as the “House of Wonders.” It was the first house to have electricity on this island and is still the largest of Zanzibar’s many structures. Today it is a museum and visitors can explore it from top to bottom.
Zanzibar was once the most important port in the Western Indian Ocean. According to an Arab proverb, “when a flute is played all Africa east of the Lakes must dance.” I can see why.
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